A Bride's Tale for a Winter Eco-Friendly Wedding by Rachel Trigueiro

My husband and I love the winter so getting married any time other than January was out of the question. One of my favorite things about winter is the snow on evergreen trees and the naked deciduous trees with no leaves. There is something about sticks, twigs, and branches that I just love! So, using both evergreens and deciduous trees for decorating and some twiggy branches for centerpieces seemed quite appropriate. What was really special about using the branches and deciduous trees was that they came from fallen trees at my in-laws ranch. Not only was it eco-friendly to use fallen trees for the majority of our decorations, it was quite sentimental for my in-laws, my husband, and myself.

Since our wedding was in January we asked friends if they would save their Christmas trees until our wedding and kindly, several of our friends did just that. So, instead of having to cut down more evergreens, we re-used (recycled) Christmas trees (with NO lights and decorations, of course!). For our cake, we wanted a tree stump in place of a cake stand. So, my uncle was able to cut an 8 inch stump to perfection, also from a fallen tree.

DIY projects give the opportunity for friends and family to get involved HANDS-ON. I had several "wedding work days" for our wedding where I invited several bridesmaids and friends to help my mom and I tackle some projects. These days were so fun and filled with great memories! When it finally came time for the big day, a lot of people were just as excited as I was because they felt they had a huge part in making our wedding a reality. So remember, DIY projects are not only inexpensive, creative and unique; they offer the chance for friends and family to get involved and feel responsible for making your ideas and dreams come true.

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